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London Beer Week: 22 – 28 February 2016

The much anticipated London Beer Week is back this year to celebrate all things barley and boozy. Starting today and lasting through until Sunday, the festivities will take place throughout London’s drinking dens.

A £10 wristband – available from the Sharp’s Brewery London Beer Week Hub – will grant beer enthusiasts a free beer and access to a series of self-guided tours in over 100 of the best bars and breweries in the city. From here, revellers can start their journey at a medley of pop-up bars centred around the Old Truman Brewery.

The festival, which is now in its second year, comes courtesy of the Drink.Up London team – who also arrange London Cocktail Week, which has just celebrated its sixth year, and the London Wine Week, which launched in 2014.

We picked Drink.Up London’s brains for five of the top beers around town and where to drink them, for just £3 a pop with a wristband, followed by five of the very best ‘hoptails’ on offer for £5.

Top Beer Picks

Oatmeal Cookie Stout: A rich, chocolatey brew with roasted nuts and caramel created by Brew by Numbers created especially for #LBW16.? Available at Hawksmoor Spitalfields Bar – 157b Commercial Street, EC1 6BJ

Beartooth American Brown Ale: A smokey, chocolatey brown ale with caramel sweetness and almond nuttiness. Upgrade to a boilermaker with Becherovka Czech liqueur for £5.? Available at Foxlow – 71-73 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0AS.

DrinkUp.London Session IPA: Tropical fruited scents, with a hint of brown sugar and a dry fresh finish. Created by Melissa Cole and 40ft at Cotswold Brewing Co especially for #LBW16. Available at The DrinkUp.London Boilermaker Bar, The Old Truman Brewery, E1 6QL